Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Conrad Launches First Professional Home Run as Affiliates Head to All-Star Break

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Chicago Cubs Minor League Report

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Cubs win, 4-2
Season Record: 39–51-1

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers): Tied, 3-3
Season Record: 49–38

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series at Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins): Cubs win, 4-2
Season Record: 49–34

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series vs. Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): Tied, 3-3
Season Record: 36–49

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Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 39–51-1
Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (50-41)
Series Standing: Win, 4-2

July 12: The Iowa Cubs dropped Sunday’s series finale, 5-4, to the St. Paul Saints at Principal Park. James Triantos’ (2-for-4) solo blast in the second, his seventh of the season, opened the scoring in the ballgame but the Saints responded with two runs in the third and one more in the fourth to go up 3-1.Moisés Ballesteros (2-for-3) cut the deficit to one with a solo shot in the fifth, his first of the campaign. St. Paul would make it a 5-2 game after scoring once in both the seventh and eighth, but Iowa was able to rally with two runs in the ninth, thanks to a two-run single from Owen Miller (2-for-5). However, Miller, representing the tying run, would be left at second to end the contest. Jordan Wicks got the start on the mound for the I-Cubs and was handed the loss, falling to 0-7 on the year. Wicks allowed two runs on four hits over three innings of work, striking out five batters without issuing a walk. The Iowa offense would go 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the day, stranding 10 runners.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 49–38
Series Opponent: Biloxi Shuckers (46–37)
Series Standing: Tied, 3-3

July 12: The Knoxville Smokies split their series with the Biloxi Shuckers following a 3-1 defeat on Sunday at Covenant Health Park. The Shuckers took a 2-0 lead after scoring a pair of runs in the third and would make it a three-run game by adding one in the eighth. The Smokies would finally get on the board in the home half of that inning, with Alex Ramírez (1-for-4) singling home Knoxville’s only run of the ballgame. Brody McCullough got the start on the mound for the Smokies and was handed the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season. McCullough allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits over four innings of work to go along with two walks and four strikeouts. Knoxville would get scoreless relief appearances from Luke Little (1.0 IP), Koen Moreno (2.0 IP) and Ryan Jensen (1.0 IP), with the trio combining to allow no hits while whiffing two. The Smokies offense was held to just three hits on the day, with none going for extra bases. They were also limited to just three chances with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-3 in those situations, leaving four runners on base.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 49–34
Series Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels (35–49)
Series Standing: Win, 4-2

July 12: The South Bend Cubs earned a series victory following a 5-2 triumph over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jose Escobar (1-for-3) gave the Cubs an early 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI-groundout and Miguel Useche (0-for-3) doubled that lead when racing home on a wild pitch in the second. The Kernels would make it a one-run game with a tally of their own in the home half of the second. South Bend plated two runs in the sixth to make it 4-1, getting an RBI-single from Angel Cepeda (1-for-3) and an RBI-groundout from Useche. Kane Kepley (1-for-3) tripled home a run in the seventh before Cedar Rapids made it 5-2 with a run later in the inning. Cole Reynolds, who entered in relief in the seventh, would keep the Kernels off the board in the final two innings to earn his first save of the season and seal the series victory for the Cubs. Reynolds allowed one run on one hit over three total innings of work, walking one and striking out one. Jostin Florentino got the start on the mound for South Bend and took no decision. Florentino allowed one run on two hits over four innings of work, issuing just one walk to go along with six punchouts. Eli Jerzembeck earned the win in relief to improve to 2-2 on the season after tossing two scoreless frames, giving up one hit and whiffing one batter.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 36–49
Series Opponent: Fredericksburg Nationals (57–30)
Series Standing: Tied, 3-3

July 12: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped Sunday’s series finale vs. the Fredericksburg Nationals, 8-6, to split the six-game set. The Nationals took a commanding 8-0 after scoring once in the first, three times in the second, twice in the fourth and twice more in the sixth. The Pelicans scored all six of their runs in the ninth inning as they attempted a furious rally. Eli Lovich (1-for-5) got Myrtle Beach on the board by scoring on a wild pitch and Edward Vargas (2-for-4) followed with a two-run double. Ivan Cespedes (2-for-2) then became the third Pelican of the ballgame to score on a wild pitch and Ethan Conrad (1-for-4) launched a two-run shot, the first home run of his professional career, to make it 8-6. Derniche Valdez (2-for-5) singled to bring Lovich up to the plate, representing the tying run, but the lefty lined out to end the game. Daniel Avitia got the start for Myrtle Beach and was handed the loss, falling to 2-2 on the season. Avitia allowed four runs on five hits over three innings of work, walking two batters and whiffing one.

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